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A comment on Why did we wait so long for the bicycle?. Parent comment

Re:Why did we wait so long for the bicycle? by benj111 on Monday July 15, 2019 @04:09PM (#20444696)
"see the famous Antikythera mechanism"

As a counterpoint see the marine chronometer for measuring longitude. Clocks had been around for centuries so easy right? [1]

Making something strong/reliable is easy, making something precise is 'easy', making something strong/reliable and precise, oh and preferably lightweight is hard.

You do have a good point about roads though. In fact in the UK the first push to tarmac the roads came from cyclists, not from motorists. And the first tyres were for a certain Mr Dunlops sons bicycle.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_chronometer

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Re:Why did we wait so long for the bicycle? by roywiggins on Monday July 15, 2019 @04:46PM (#20445090)
Even marine chronometers, once they were perfected, were very expensive, artisan pieces that had to be handmade.
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